GO THE DISTANCE WELLNESS: Personal Physical Fitness

 

Lesson Summary: Participants travel the distance of the Iditarod Trail by converting minutes of exercise to miles along the trail with the goal being to reach Nome before a predetermined date (perhaps the finish of the race).

Procedural Activities:  Advertise this Wellness Initiative and encourage participants to commit to going the distance by participating in physical activity during a predetermined time frame.  Suggested time frame would be during the winter “doldrums” of January, February, and March up until the time of the Finisher’s Banquet.  Participants are each given a “paw” to mark their way along the trail as well as a log sheet.  Create a large-scale trail in a visible and easily accessible area.  The visual effect of the trail can be enhanced with pictures of the villages as well as demographic information.  Participants move their paw along the trail, keep a log sheet and check in with a “checker” upon reaching each checkpoint.   The goal is for participants to reach Nome, order is not important.  A Finisher’s Banquet can be held to celebrate the achievement of those who went the distance and token awards given for completing the activity.  At North High, the Finisher’s Banquet consisted of fruits and other healthy snacks one morning before school.  The award was a Plush Puppy Husky Key Chain from the Iditarod on line store.

View the Lesson Plan Here!